| Rally de Portugal | |
| Status: | active |
| Genre: | motorsporting event |
| Frequency: | annual |
| Country: | Portugal |
| First: | 1967 |
The Rally de Portugal (formerly: Rallye de Portugal) is a rally competition held in Portugal. First held in 1967, the seventh running of the race, the 7º TAP Rallye de Portugal was the third event in the inaugural FIA World Rally Championship in 1973. The rally remained on the WRC calendar for the next 29 years, and after being dropped for 2002–2006, the event returned to Portugal in 2007. During the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, Rally de Portugal was a mixed event between asphalt and gravel. Currently it is an all-gravel event.
Rally de Portugal has been awarded "The Best Rally in the World" five times and in 2000 "The Most Improved Rally of the Year".[1] The most successful driver in the history of the rally is Finland's Markku Alén, who has won the event five times (1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1987).
The Rally of Portugal was extremely popular but also infamous due to poor crowd control. During the 1970s and especially the 1980s, Portugal was known for spectators standing on the roadway even as the cars drove by, often resulting in near-collisions, and finally in the 1986 season a collision between cars and spectators. It was the last year the Group B cars dominated the WRC scene. And it was because of a tragic accident which occurred during the rally that the future of Group B cars came under scrutiny. The final blow came at the Tour de Corse later that year with the death of Henri Toivonen.
In the first section of the rally (Sintra), in the "Lagoa Azul" stage, Portuguese works Ford rally driver Joaquim Santos came over a crest in his RS200 getting too loose through the corner.[2] Santos managed to avoid the crowd on the outside of the corner, but he was not able to avoid the crowd on the inside of the corner. The car left the road, plunging right into the crowd, killing three and injuring dozens more. After this accident all works teams withdrew from the rally.
The combination of poor crowd behavior, and the extreme speeds of Group B cars, was not only dangerous for the crowd, but also for the drivers themselves. Former world champion Timo Salonen admitted at the '86 edition that he was scared to run first on the road. Walter Röhrl had his own theory on the crowd situation: "You just have to see the crowd as a wall and not as spectators."
It did not necessarily go any better in following years. At the 1987 edition a privately entered, FR car driven by Portuguese rally car driver Joaquim Guedes plunged into the crowd. Unfortunately, this led to the death of spectator Manuel Carvalho Da Silva Peixoto, and injured 12 others, but the crowd control was not much improved. It was not until the early 1990s that the Portuguese rally improved crowd control. Crowds were no smaller, but were better-behaved and more aware of the risks involved in spectating.
In the 1980s, the rally had a special stage at the Autódromo do Estoril.[3] [4]
The last WRC edition of the Portugal rally for five years was run under heavy rain in 2001. It was won by Tommi Mäkinen in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. In 2002, it was replaced in favour of Germany's Rallye Deutschland. In 2005, the organisers of the Rally of Portugal announced their intentions to rejoin the WRC, this time switching locations to an area around the Algarve. This means the character of the rally has changed. It is now fully driven on gravel. This is frowned upon by the Portuguese fans, who consider the Algarve stages less exciting, which is also reflected in lower attendance numbers. In 2006, it ran as an official WRC candidate event for the 2007 WRC calendar and was formally incorporated into the 2007 calendar on 5 July 2006. The 2007 Rally Portugal was the fifth round of the season and was won by Citroën Total's Sébastien Loeb.
After a year in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge schedule, the Rally Portugal returned to the WRC calendar for the 2009 season. The competition in the 2009 Rally Portugal was set in the surroundings of Faro, capital of the Algarve region, on twisty hill sections, with fast blind corners and narrow sections. The first stage in the Estádio Algarve (Algarve Stadium) was won by Henning Solberg, but when the rally really began, Jari-Matti Latvala took the lead. However, he soon suffered a big crash, rolling his Ford Focus WRC 17 times down a steep mountain. The rally was eventually won by Loeb.
The 2020 edition of the rally was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
| width=35% rowspan="2" | Rally name | width=8% rowspan="2" | Stages | Podium finishers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Rank | width=20% | Driver co-driver | width=24% | Team Car | width=10% | Time |
| 1º Rallye de Portugal 1967 | 8 stages 47,60 km* | 1 |  Renault 8 Gordini | 14758,9 pts | |||
| 2 |  António Peixinho João Canas Mendes | Ford Cortina Lotus | 15888,9 pts | ||||
| 3 | Joseph Bourdon Claude Bertrand | Renault 8 Gordini | 22560,5 pts | ||||
| 2º Rallye de Portugal 1968 | 8 stages 94,60 km* | 1 |  Lancia Fulvia HF | 16503,3 pts | |||
| 2 | Paddy Hopkirk Tony Nash | BMC Cooper S 1300 | 17989,6 pts | ||||
| 3 | António Peixinho João Canas Mendes | Morris Cooper S | 22661,8 pts | ||||
| 3º Rallye de Portugal 1969 | 10 stages 140,00 km* | 1 | Francisco Romãozinho "Jocames" | Citroën DS | 104759 pts | ||
| 2 | José Lampreia Christian Melville |  Datsun 1600 SSS | 113476 pts | ||||
| 3 |  Chris van Stalle Robert Loyens | Datsun 1600 SSS | 113945 pts | ||||
| 4º TAP Rallye de Portugal 1970 | 12 stages 205,50 km | 1 | Lancia Fulvia HF | 7099 pts | |||
| 2 | Sandro Munari Arnaldo Bernacchini | Lancia Fulvia HF 1600 | 7486 pts | ||||
| 3 |  Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius |  Porsche 911 S | 7929 pts | ||||
| 5º TAP Rallye de Portugal 7 to 10 October 1971 | 20 stages 304,50 km | 1 | Alpine Renault A110 | 19249 pts | |||
| 2 | Lancia Fulvia HF 1600 | 20664 pts | |||||
| 3 | Robert Neyret Jacques Terramorsi | Alpine Renault A110 1600 | 23630 pts | ||||
| 6º TAP Rallye de Portugal 11 to 15 October 1972 | 31 stages 389,60 km | 1 | BMW 2002 TI | 5 h 51 m 03 s | |||
| 2 | Bernard Darniche Alan Mahe | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 6 h 00 m 05 s | ||||
| 3 | Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius | Citroën SM Proto | 6 h 08 m 54 s | ||||
| 7º TAP Rallye de Portugal 13 to 18 March 1973 Round 3 of the 1973 World Rally Championship | 32 stages 387 km | 1 | Alpine Renault Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5 h 42 m 16 s | |||
| 2 | Alpine Renault Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5 h 48 m 16 s | |||||
| 3 | Citroën Competition Citroën DS 21 | 6 h 7 m 48 s | |||||
| 8º TAP Rallye de Portugal 20 to 23 March 1974 Round 1 of the 1974 World Rally Championship | 455 km | 1 | Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye | 6 h 26 m 15 s | |||
| 2 | Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye | 6 h 30 m 12 s | |||||
| 3 | Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye | 6 h 37 m 17 s | |||||
| 9º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 18 to 21 July 1975 Round 6 of the 1975 World Rally Championship | 512 km | 1 | Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye | 6 h 24 m 15 s | |||
| 2 | Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye | 6 h 26 m 58 s | |||||
| 3 | Toyota Team Europe Toyota Corolla | 6 h 29 m 29 s | |||||
| 10º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 10 to 14 March 1976 Round 3 of the 1976 World Rally Championship | 470 km | 1 | Lancia Stratos HF | 5 h 41 m 26 s | |||
| 2 | Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT | 5 h 44 m 24 s | |||||
| 3 | Opel Kadett GT/E | 6 h 26 m 37 s | |||||
| 11º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 1 to 6 March 1977 Round 3 of the 1977 World Rally Championship Round 4 of the 1977 FIA Cup for Rally Drivers | 580 km | 1 | Fiat 131 Abarth | 6 h 51 m 47 s | |||
| 2 | Ford Escort RS1800 | 6 h 55 m 43 s | |||||
| 3 | Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT | 6 h 56 m 8 s | |||||
| 12º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 19 to 23 April 1978 Round 4 of the 1978 World Rally Championship Round 5 of the 1978 FIA Cup for Rally Drivers | 46 stages 627 km | 1 | Fiat 131 Abarth | 7 h 45 m 33 s | |||
| 2 | Ford Escort RS1800 | 7 h 50 m 1 s | |||||
| 3 | Ford Escort RS1800 | 8 h 1 m 1 s | |||||
| 13º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 6 to 11 March 1979 Round 3 of the 1979 World Rally Championship | 45 stages 735 km | 1 |  Ford Motor CompanyFord Escort RS1800 | 9 h 13 m 52 s | |||
| 2 | Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 | 9 h 16 m 36 s | |||||
| 3 | Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT | 9 h 35 m 0 s | |||||
| 14º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 4 to 9 March 1980 Round 3 of the 1980 World Rally Championship | 47 stages 673.5 km | 1 | Fiat Italia Fiat 131 Abarth | 9 h 13 m 52 s | |||
| 2 | Fiat Italia Fiat 131 Abarth | 9 h 16 m 36 s | |||||
| 3 | Talbot Cars GB Talbot Sunbeam Lotus | 9 h 35 m 0 s | |||||
| 15º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 4 to 7 March 1981 Round 3 of the 1981 World Rally Championship | 46 stages 681 km | 1 | Fiat Auto Torino Fiat 131 Abarth | 8 h 27 m 26 s | |||
| 2 | Talbot Talbot Sunbeam Lotus | 8 h 36 m 36 s | |||||
| 3 | Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT | 8 h 43 m 47 s | |||||
| 16º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 3 to 6 March 1982 Round 3 of the 1982 World Rally Championship | 40 stages 639 km | 1 | Audi Sport Audi Quattro | 7 h 39 m 36 s | |||
| 2 | Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT | 7 h 52 m 43 s | |||||
| 3 | Audi Sport Audi Quattro | 8 h 7 m 25 s | |||||
| 17º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 2 to 5 March 1983 Round 3 of the 1983 World Rally Championship | 40 stages 642 km | 1 | Audi Sport Audi Quattro A1 | 7 h 17 m 24 s | |||
| 2 | Audi Sport Audi Quattro A1 | 7 h 18 m 19 s | |||||
| 3 | Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 | 7 h 19 m 14 s | |||||
| 18º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 6 to 11 March 1984 Round 3 of the 1984 World Rally Championship | 45 stages 684 km | 1 | Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 | 7 h 35 m 32 s | |||
| 2 | Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 | 7 h 35 m 59 s | |||||
| 3 | Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 | 7 h 58 m 21 s | |||||
| 19º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 6 to 9 March 1985 Round 3 of the 1985 World Rally Championship | 47 stages 733 km | 1 | Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 | 8 h 7 m 25 s | |||
| 2 | Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 | 8 h 12 m 12 s | |||||
| 3 | Audi Sport Audi Sport Quattro | 8 h 13 m 23 s | |||||
| 20º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 5 to 8 March 1986 Round 3 of the 1986 World Rally Championship | 42 stages 660 km | 1 | Renault Galp Renault 5 Turbo | 7 h 50 m 44 s | |||
| 2 | Duriforte Construções Lancia Rally 037 | 8 h 4 m 11 s | |||||
| 3 | Jolly Club Fiat Uno Turbo | 8 h 7 m 36 s | |||||
| 21º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 11 to 14 March 1987 Round 3 of the 1987 World Rally Championship | 37 stages 597.67 km | 1 | Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD | 7 h 9 m 39 s | |||
| 2 | Renault Sport Elf Renault 11 Turbo | 7 h 12 m 32 s | |||||
| 3 | Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V | 7 h 14 m 37 s | |||||
| 22º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 1 to 6 March 1988 Round 3 of the 1988 World Rally Championship | 37 stages 589.89 km | 1 | Martini Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale | 6 h 44 m 1 s | |||
| 2 | Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD | 6 h 52 m 47 s | |||||
| 3 | Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD | 6 h 53 m 23 s | |||||
| 23º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto 28 February to 4 March 1989 Round 3 of the 1989 World Rally Championship | 37 stages 576.88 km | 1 | Martini Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale | 6 h 47 m 1 s | |||
| 2 | Martini Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale | 6 h 57 m 19 s | |||||
| 3 | Jolly Club Lancia Delta Integrale | 7 h 10 m 19 s | |||||
Rally out of World Rally Championship
| width=25% rowspan="2" | Rally name | width=8% rowspan="2" | Stages | Podium finishers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Rank | width=20% | Driver co-driver | width=24% | Team Car | width=10% | Time |
| 36º TMN Rallye de Portugal 7 to 8 June 2002 | 8 stages 152,77 km | 1 | Toyota Corolla WRC | 1h41m25,5s | |||
| 2 | Procar Srl Subaru Impreza WRC P2000 | 1 h 43 m 59,9 s | |||||
| 3 | Peugeot Total Silver Team SG Peugeot 206 WRC | 1 h 44 m 35,9 s | |||||
| 37º TMN Rallye de Portugal 28 to 29 March 2003 | 9 stages 164,97 km | 1 | Citroën Saxo Kit Car | 2 h 04 m 12,7 s | |||
| 2 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 2 h 05 m 57,9 s | |||||
| 3 | Interpass Competição Citroën Saxo S1600 | 2 h 09 m 07,1 s | |||||
| 38º TMN Rallye de Portugal 2004 | 8 stages 151,82 km | 1 | Citroën Saxo Kit Car | 1 h 54 m 49,1 s | |||
| 2 | Subaru Impreza WRX | 1 h 55 m 31,7s | |||||
| 3 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 2 h 00 m 33,9 s | |||||
| 39º TMN Rallye de Portugal 31 March to 2 April 2005 | 12 stages 237,66 km | 1 | Subaru Impreza WRX | 2 h 44 m 54,0 s | |||
| 2 | Subaru Impreza WRX | 2 h 46 m 03,0 s | |||||
| 3 | Mitsubishi Galp TMN Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII | 2 h 47 m 19,2 s | |||||
| 40º PT-Rally de Portugal 2006 | 12 stages 239,90 km | 1 | Mitsubishi Motors Portugal Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR | 3h 06 m 14,0 s | |||
| 2 | Subaru Impreza N11 | 3h 07 m 31,0 s | |||||
| 3 | Subaru Impreza N12 | 3h 07 m 49,6 s | |||||
Rally back to World Rally Championship, but held in Algarve
Rally back to its roots: North of Portugal
Embolded drivers are competing in the World Rally Championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the World Rally Championship.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sébastien Ogier | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2024 |
| 5 |  Markku Alén | 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1987 |
| 3 | Hannu Mikkola | 1979, 1983, 1984 |
| Miki Biasion | 1988, 1989, 1990 | |
| Armindo Araújo | 2003, 2004, 2006 | |
| 2 | Juha Kankkunen | 1992, 1994 |
| Sébastien Loeb | 2007, 2009 | |
| Tommi Mäkinen | 1997, 2001 | |
 Colin McRae | 1998, 1999 | |
 Carlos Sainz | 1991, 1995 | |
| Kalle Rovanperä | 2022, 2023 | |
| Wins | Manufacturers | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Toyota | |
| 8 | Citroën Lancia | |
| 6 | Fiat | |
| 5 | Ford | |
| 4 | Renault Subaru | |
| 3 | Audi Mitsubishi Volkswagen | |
| 2 | Peugeot Talbot Sunbeam Lotus |
